The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District is a good example. Its reaction was to try to increase taxes with a parcel tax.

I have seven reasons why I’m opposing Measure V tax. These are principles that could be applied to all the South Bay school districts.

My opposition surprised many, knowing my support for quality education. I am a strong advocate of better teachers, curriculum and administration. Having recently seen my youngest of five children graduate from high school, I know about the good and bad of our educational system.

And being chairman of the Measure P (parcel tax) Oversight Committee, I have been able to closely monitor funding and expenditures of the Peninsula’s school district. (I speak now only for myself, not as chairman or a member of the committee.)

Here are the seven reasons:

Your kids’ and grandkids’ education will not suffer if voters say “No” to the tax hike. Forget the scare tactics, panicked political propaganda and emotional appeals by phone and mail. Most of the cuts are overdue and will actually help eliminate the existing fat and unnecessary spending. Some in the school system will find they have to work harder, but that’s real life. If anything, the waste and bureaucracy is still too big and even more accountability is needed.

Property values will not be affected with either a “Yes” or “No” vote. PV educational excellence will not be compromised, the kids will continue to excel and students won’t suffer any decline in receiving among the best educational opportunities in Los Angeles County.

In a recession, you don’t raise taxes, you cut spending. Raising taxes at this time is unwise. PV taxpayers have paid more than $17 million extra tax dollars with the existing parcel tax. Measures R, S and K raised more than $86 million extra. The taxpayers need a rest, especially after the massive Sacramento tax hike that costs the average Peninsula resident an extra $1,500 out of their pockets.

Measure V would be a tax on a tax. If Measure V passes, taxpayers will be paying M and V at the same time because Measure P lasts until 2012 – plus all the bond money payments. Besides double taxation, Measure R taxes are going up this year. Probably more in the coming years.

There are no meaningful teachers union concessions; everyone else must sacrifice. Until the union becomes more flexible, I don’t think more money should be spent by the taxpayers. For nine months, many extra free days, a generous pension and retirement package, the top-paid teachers get about $86,495. I think we should pay the teachers well and attract the best. But families across the South Bay must sacrifice and compromise and the teachers need to also. Their attitude is compromise in words, not actions. My wife has been a high school teacher for more than 15 years, I have a secondary education credential and I love good teachers. But the teachers must face reality.

School expenditures in 1999-2000 were $53,602,064 with 10,072 students. School expenditures in 2008-2009 are $99,145,300 (up from $98,154,883 from last year!) with about 11,900 students. That’s a 30 percent increase over 10 years! Next year, enrollment is projected to be down by 100 students. The trend is expected to continue for years. School districts must learn to live within our means.

Many of the inequities are beyond the control of any school board or educational leadership. For example:

Schools should cut inefficient programs, but they are mandated by the state and federal government – without proper funding for the programs.

Some programs aren’t cut for fear of lawsuits because of our frivolous lawsuit-friendly legal system.

Hundreds of thousands – maybe millions – could be saved by outsourcing, but it’s hard to do because the school unions have blocked this with an outrageous state law.

Bad teachers can’t be fired, only those new teachers – who might be the best for our kids – are fired due to the teachers union’s protection of senior teachers regardless of their performance.

More administration and bureaucracy cuts are needed, but they are the ones making the cuts – in their view, everything is needed.

I oppose Measure V. Our educational quality will be maintained. Our kids won’t be hurt. Some in the district will have to work smarter. Instead of new taxes, a group of taxpayer advocates, business owners and educational leaders should objectively recommend cuts before more money is spent.

Craig Huey, a Rolling Hills Estates resident, is the president of LAVoterGuide.com, JudgeVoterGuide.com and Peninsula Residents for a Better Community (e-mail: craig@LAVoterGuide.com).